Electrochemistry with Simple Materials to Create Designs and Write Messages
-
-
[1] Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor University
Township of Spring Arbor, Estados Unidos
-
- Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 96, Nº 6, 2019, págs. 1178-1181
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
-
Resumen
An activity is described in which items found around the home are used in electrochemical experiments to create messages and artistic designs. To do so, a battery is connected to wires fashioned out of aluminum foil. When these wire electrodes are touched to a paper towel soaked in fluids obtained from household cleaners or disinfectants, the resultant redox reactions cause color changes on the paper towel. For example, the reduction of water at a cathode can cause a blue color to develop on a paper towel soaked in foam cleaner that contains thymolphthalein, and oxidation of iodide ions at an anode can produce a black color on a paper towel soaked in decolorized iodine. The experiments are very simple to set up and carry out; produce striking visual results; and relate to concepts in electrochemistry, acid–base chemistry, and thermodynamics. As such, the activity may be tailored for use in settings that range from outreach events to general- and analytical-chemistry courses.
